Animal trap



Aug. 14,1923.'

F. H. CRAGO ANIMAL TRAP Filed March 1l. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 14, 1923.

, F. H. CRAGO ANIMAL TRAP Filed March 1l. '1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 14, 15.923.

FELX -I. CRGO, F FIILLTOWN, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 SOLFEST N.

Swenson, or iviissonmi,

EEGNTANA.

ANIIVIAL TRAP.

Application led March 11.,4 1922. Serial No. 543,038.

is a specilication.

rlhe device forming the subject matter ot this application is a trap, and'one object ofV the invention is so to construct the trap that, when theV same is sprung, the trap will rise,

i thereby enabling the jaws of thetrap to attain a secure hold on the leg of the animal.

` A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for adjusting the trigger`= of the trap. A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for operating and controlling the jaws.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance tlieutility or devicesy of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the detailsof` construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changesr in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

ln the accompanying` drawings Y Figure 1 shows in plan, a trap constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away; Figure 2 is a longitudinal` section wherein parts appear in elevation; Figure S'is a cross section on the line 3-73 of Figure 2'; Figure is a plan showing the slide; Figure 5 is a cross line 5 5 of Figure 2.

' The trap: forming the subject matter of this application comprises a tubular body 1 lnivingv depending` side walls 2 provided with outstanding flanges 3, the -flanges being adapted to support the trap, 'when set, in a horizontal position, Yon the surface ot the ground indicated at '11. The tlanges' are united by connections 17 and 18, which may be rivets. An annular guide and abutment 5 is located in the bcdyrl adjacent to the forward end thereof, and isV held'in place by securing elements 6. (The guide "5 and the upper portion of the body 1 are supplied with registering` openings 7.

section on the K chored,

plunger 8.

The numeral 8 marks a plunger, located in the' body 1, and mounted for longitudinal reciprocation in the guide 5, the plunger avinganopening Qwhicli is adapted to be brought into registration with the openings 'Z when the trap is n pair oi" curved jaws 10 are provided, the jaws being united vat their rear ends, by means of `a pivot element 11,`with the forward end or' the plunger 8, the jaws working in notches 12 formed in the Vside walls of the body 1. rlfhe plung `ei" 8vhas a reduced rear end le, which is threaded.' A swivel 15 is connected to the end 14 of the plunger 8 and carries a chain 16 or the like,whereby in accordance with the common practice. i

lAn operating member, in the form ont a nut 19, is threaded on the end 1e ot the ln advance of the nut 19 is disposed an abutment or slide, shown in detail in Figure 4e and appearing clearly in Figure 2. The abutment is a composite structure and includes a cup-shaped disk 2O trom which a sleeve 21 projects, the disk engaging the nut 19 and the sleeve 21 being 'mounted slidablyl on vthe reduced end 14; ot

the plunger 8. An arm 23 projects rorwardreduced end 1li', one end oi the spring being adapted vto cooperate with the guide `and abutment 5, the other end of the springbcing adapted to cooperate with the disk 2O.`

rlClie numeral 2'l{inarls a link, one end ot which 'is pivotedat 28 to the forward end oie the arm 23, as shown at 2S, the forward end of the link 2li being pivoted at 29 to the intermediate portion oit a trigger 25, the 'rear end of the trigger terminating in 'a bearing 2G, mounted on the connection 18, the construction being such that the trigger 25 may swing vertically. An adjusting member 27 is mounted for sliding movement on the trigger 25 and is of tapered or wedgelike form.

` In' practical operation, the nut 19 is moved to Vthe right (Figure 2) until the spring 22 is set free. Thereupon the plungtlie trap may be ane,

icc

18 with the point of pivotal union 2S between the link /Lsl and the forward end of Lne arm 2S, the trap, therefore, remaining set. rlhe pin (not shown) which is inserted into the Vopg-mime 7 and 9 is witndrawn, the body 1 Ab 1 of the trap thus being in the horizontal position shown in Figure of the drawings.

`When an animal treads on the trigger 2o,

the trigger is carried downwardly until the pivot point 29 is below a line joining the pivot point Q8 with the connection 1S, whereupon, the spring 22 will reassert itself, the plunger 8 being carried rearwardly, the jaws moving into the crossed dotted lineposition of Figure 1, and the leg of the animal being carried backwardly between the jaws. The trigger Q5 swings` downwardly, into engagement with the ground, and into the dotted line position of Figure 2, the forward end ofthe body 1 and the jaws 10 being carried i upwardly. The result is that the jaws 10 acquire a hrm hold on the leg of the animal, well. above the foot, and it will be practically impossible for the animal to jerk its foot out from between the jaws 10.

The trap is so constructed that, upon the one hand, a considerable pressure may be required on the trigger 25 in order to spring the trap: and, upon the other hand, the parts of the trap may be so arranged with respect to each other that the slightest pressure on the trigger Q5 will spring the trap. This result is brought about by the tapered adjusting member 2'?, it being obvious that, the more that the adjusting member 27 is moved to the left (Figure .2) the closer will the pivot point VQ9 approach a line joining the connection 18 with the pivot point 28, the trap being sprung easily, when the pivot point 29 is closely adjacent to the said line, and the trap being sprung with increasing diiliculty, as the vertical distance of the pivot point 29 above the said line increases.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is z 1. A trap comprising a body; a plunger slidable in the body; jaws carried by the plunger and closed when the plunger is retracted a trigger pivoted to the bodygmeans v raser/fie means for retracting the plunger, and constituting means for swinging the trigger downwardly thereby to effect a raising of the forward end of the body and the .jaws when the trap is sprung.

2. A trap comprising a body; a plunger slidable in the body; jaws carried by the plunger and closed when the plunger is retracted a trigo-er pivoted to the body; a slide mounted for;v adjustment on the plunger; means for holding the Vslide in adjusted positions on the plunger; means for connecting the slide with the trigger; and a spring interposed between the slide and a portion of the body, the ,spring constituting means for retracting the plunger, and constituting means for swinging the trigger downwardly thereby to effect a raising of the'forward end of the body and the jaws when the trap4 is sprung. y

3. A trap comprising a. body; a guide in the body; a plunger slidable in the guide; jaws carried by the plunger and closed when the plunger is retracted; a trigger pivoted to the body; a slide adjustable longitudinally of the plunger; a compression spring interposed between the slide and the guide; means for holding the slide in adjusted positions on the plunger; and a link pivotally connected with the slide and with the trigger.

t. A trap comprising a body; a plunger slidable in the body; jaws pivoted to the plunger and closed when the plunger is retracted; "spring means for retracting the plunger;'a trigger; a pivotal connection between tlie trigger and the body; a link pivoted to the trigger; means for connecting the link to the plunger; and an adjusting member movable upon the link to assume a position in Contact with said pivotal connection, thereby to adjust the position ofthe trigger 5. A device of the cla-ssdescribed. constructed as set forth in claim 4l, and furthercharacterized by the fact that the adjusting member is tapered.

6. A trap comprising a body; -a plunger i slidable in the body: jaws pivoted tothe plunger and closed when the plunger is retracted; spring means for ietracting the plunger; a trigger; a link pivoted to the trigger; means for connecting the link to the plunger; and means adjustable along the link for varying the position of the trigger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto'aftixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

A I FELIX H. Clt-AGG.

Witnesses l EARNEST H. WHIsLnR, Finir) H. VYHISLER, 

